Accreditation news and events

Autism Accreditation hosted another successful round of Raising Standards days in November 2017, held in Leeds and London.

Raising Standards Days are open as a free event to all of the Autism Accreditation members, and many turned out in force to this years themed event of ‘Participation, how to involve autistic people and their families more in services and schools’.

This year’s line-up featured insightful contributions from Ros Blackburn, Jamie and Lion and Sharon King. Each gave their very personal accounts of either their experience as an autistic adult or a parent of autistic children.

The day was also an opportunity for Autism Accreditation to celebrate some of its member’s incredible achievements by presenting commendations to services or schools that demonstrated that they had gone above and beyond meeting the Autism Accreditation criteria in a particular area.

"Very good event, inspiring presentations form very different autistic perspectives."

"Excellent day, has renewed my enthusiasm and motivation to continue the crusade for autistic people."

"A very interesting, though provoking and informative event."

"Fantastic day – loved it."

Congratulations to the young film makers at Bedeburn Short breaks Centre

Autism Accreditation would like to offer its congratulations to the young people that attend Bedeburn Shortbreaks Centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne, who have been entered into an international film festival.

The ‘G-Team’ (included autistic people) was first involved in creating the news in 2015 in their first publication of the Bedeburn Planet, a newsletter produced by the young people that access the service. For the next 2 years the G’s have reported the news, became involved in many of the stories, and now, are the news. Through a funding grant from the Beacon Hill Arts Fund the young people undertook a week of workshops to understand how to write, produce and star in their own production of ‘The Mystery of Mission Hat.’

The premiere of The Mystery of Mission Hat took place on Monday October 17th 2016 at Playhouse Whitley Bay.

The Mystery of Mission Hat’ is on Global realise and is to be premiered in Lahore International Children's Film Festival http://lahorechildrenfilm.com/ which is held in Lahore, Pakistan on 13-19 November 2017.

The impact of this experience on them is just that, IMPACT! The opportunity to learn new skills has boosted the self-confidence of the young people involved immeasurably.

The young people were incredibly proud and excited to personally present their work in front of an audience of around three hundred people on that night of the premier.

Snowbility achieve Autism Accreditation

Autism Accreditation is pleased to congratulate Snowbility in achieving their first Autism Accreditation. The team, based in Hertfordshire, was established in October 2011 to make a difference through snow sports to people with additional needs, such as autism and dyspraxia, as well as all forms of rehabilitation challenges. This is the first group of its kind to undertake and achieve Autism Accreditation and we are thrilled to be expanding our impact and portfolio of members further. To find out more about the success that can be accomplished when autistic people have access to such activities, please read Jack’s story.

Autism Accreditation Excellence Award WINNERS 2017

Congratulations to Woodcroft School who beat off stiff competition to win the Autism Accreditation Excellence Award at the recent Autism Professionals Awards as part of The National Autistic Society professional conference in Harrogate.

Woodcroft School is a family-owned independent special school that opened in 1963. Based in Loughton, Essex, Woodcroft provides day places for pupils from across north and east London and neighbouring counties. The school's flexible problem-solving approach extends to the offer of daily home-school transport for pupils who may find travel a barrier to accessing the school's unique provision. The transport service is operated by trained teachers assistants and drivers from Woodcroft's own team and is supported by office and maintenance staff, teachers, therapists and the senior management team. Judges loved the innovation and personalisation of this service. They described the winning entry as an excellent service having a clear impact on students struggling with transition.

To find out more about the travel programme visit our success stories page.

Events

Autism Accreditation hosts regular events around the UK to bring together professionals from accredited services, in order to discuss current issues and share good practice. Here you can download presentations from past events and find out about forthcoming meetings.

Autism Accreditation Raising Standards Events 2016

Review team training

The Autism Accreditation Programme is based on a cycle of continuous development and improvement, in which services progress through a self-audit, a volunteer peer review and validation by an independent panel of professionals with considerable experience of working in the field of autism.
Autism Accreditation provides CPD accredited training and development to successful applicants who have expressed a wish to become part of the Peer Review Teams.
Training occurs at regular intervals throughout the year, across the UK. Please return to this page for a list of upcoming dates.

Due to popular uptake all new applications are on hold until further notice.